Water-heater



(No Model.) 1

W-. H. MARSHALL.

WATER HBKTEL N0. 511,630. 'Pat entd Dec. 26 1893.

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THE NATIONAL umoannvmms COMPANY,

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XVILLIAM H. MARSHALL, OF EVERETT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALE TO EDGAR V. ANTHONY, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

WATER-HEATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 511,630, dated December 26, 1893.

Application filed July 11,1892, Serial No. 439,556. (No model.)

To (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HARRY MAR- SHALL, of Everett, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new Improvement in Water-Heaters; andl do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawing and letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same,

IO and which said drawing constitutes part of this specification, and represents a vertical central section of the boiler complete.

This invention relates to an improvement in water-heating apparatus, adapted to the I5 employment of gas as fuel, the invention being designed for boilers of the smaller class, such as used for soda-fountains and other places where but a small quantity of water is required to be heated, and the heat maintained as the water is drawn therefrom, the object of the invention being to automatically regulate the flow of gas, and so as to maintain substantially a constant temperature of the Water, and the invention consists in the 2 5 construction of the apparatus as hereinafter described and particularly recited in the claims.

A, represents the body of the boiler, which may be made of any suitable material, and of a size according to the capacity required. It is tightly closed so as to prevent the escape of steam or water except through apertures provided for the purpose.

13, represents the top of the boiler, which is 5 secured to the boiler proper, so as to make the boiler secure and tight.

In the upper part of the boiler is a receiving chamber 0, which opens through atube D, into the boiler near its bottom.

E, represents the inlet water pipe, which leads into the chamber O. As here represented the pipe E extends through the top or cover of the boiler, and so that water coming into the boiler will first flow through the cham- 5 ber O, and thence find its way to the bottom of the boiler through the tube D.

F, represents the gas-burner, whichas here represented is the common Bunsen burner. Gas is led to the burner over the top of the boiler through the tubes G, as represented.

Over the receiving chamber 0, is a chamber H. This chamber is formed by a central recess in the top B, of the boiler. The recess is of circular shape, and is constructed with an internal annular shoulder I, at the top of the chamber H; the Walls and bottom of the recess forming the chamber H, are cast integral with the cover. The bottom of the chamber H, forms a close partition between it and the receiving chamber 0, below, and so that the bottom of the chamber H, is exposed in the chamber 0. In the top of the chamber H, a flexible diaphragm J, is arranged; this is best made from thin elastic metal, and is firmly secured to the walls of the chamber H, at the top of the chamber, as by soldering the edge of the diaphragm around the edges of the top of the chamber, so that it is firm in its position, yet adapted to yield up and down; at the same time it perfectly closes the top of the chamber, so that air can neither enter nor escape from that chamber. The chamber H may be filled with air, or other fluid than air which is capable of expansion and contraction under variations of temperature.

In the gas pipe which passes overthe boiler a valve is arranged to automaticallyregulate the flow of gas. As here represented this valve consists of a shell K, having a vertically moving valve L, arranged therein, adapted to move up and down, and as here represented the valve closes by an upward movement. The spindle M, of the valve extends upward through a guide N, in the shell, and into the space above the valve the inlet gas pipe 0, leads, so that the flow of gas will be into the shell above the valve L. The outlet passage P, leads from below the valve seat into the supply-pipe G, as clearly shown. A spindle Q, extends downward from the valve through the shell, and to pack the spindle so as to prevent the escape of gas a flexible diaphragm R, is introduced below the valve-seat in connection with the valve spindle, the diaphragm extending to the shell, and there se- 5 cured by its edges, a common and well known packing device. The valve is held normally open by means of a spring S, arranged in the shell above the valvespindle M, one end of the spring resting upon a cap T, which sets I00 on the end of the spindle M, as shown, and in the shell above is an adjusting-screw N, by

which the pressure of the spring may be varied, as occasion requires, and this projection of the shell which forms the spring-chamber is closed at its upper end by a cap V, so as to cover and prevent tampering with the adjusting-screw U. By this arrangement and location of the spring it is removed from the source of heat as far as permitted, so that the influence of the heat thereon is reduced to a minimum, and hence it will counteract the action of the diaphragm as little as possible.

Onto the shoulder I, within the recess in the top of the boiler, a disk WV, is secured, through which is an opening X, onto the diaphragm J. The valve is secured to the disk. Over this opening the base Y, of the valve sets onto the top of a projection on the disk, through which the opening X, is formed, and a flanged nut Z, screwed onto the projection from the disk W secures the two parts together, this being a common and well known joint. The shell of the valve is made as a part of the base Y, and is connected thereto by bars a, more or less in number, but preferably so as to leave an open space between the base and the body of the shell.

Through the base Y, of the valve-shell is a vertical step b, the lower end of which rests directly upon the diaphragm J, and so as to be supported thereby; the spindle Q, of the.

. a reverse adjustment, but when adjusted, and

without influence from the chamber H, the normal position of the valve is, open to a certain extent'so as to permit the flow of gas, it being understood that when the flow of gas is required to be out 01f entirely, the common supply cock arranged in the pipe 0, not shown, is employed.

In operation the boiler is filled with water, and gas being turned on will flow through the normally open valve to the burner, and there lighted, the flame coming upon the bottom of the boiler will heat the water, and as the temperature rises within the boiler, heat will be imparted to the chamber H, to expand the air, or other fluid within that chamber, and such expansion of the fluid will cause the diaphragm J, to rise and impart a corresponding rising movement to the valve, and which will accordingly reduce the flow of gas to the burner, and consequently reduce the heat which is applied to the boiler. As the valve 7 rises the'spring S, will be compressed until is not desirable, as it must continue lighted in order to work satisfactorily. To permit a flow of gas sufflcient to maintain a small flame at the burner, a leak opening d, is arranged from the gas supply pipe into the valvechamber below the valve-seat, and so that while the valve may be closed, there will still a small amount of gas pass through the leak d, and thence to the burneigfisufficient. to maintain a substantially non-effective flame. The leak is regulated by a screw 6, which 1s adapted to increase or diminish the extent of openingof the leak, as may be required. This is a common device in connection with gas burners. As soon as the heat is reduced below a predetermined degree of temperature, the fluid in the chamber H, will contract, and the diaphragm will fall and permit the valve to open under the action of its spring S to permit an increased flow of gas, and consequently increase the flame. The incoming water, which is of a low temperature, entering as it does the chamber C, directly below the chamber H, will operate to quickly cool or reduce the temperature upon the fluid in the chamber H, so that aswater is drawn from the boiler, the inflow of Water operates quickly to increase the flame to raise the temperature of the water naturally reduced by the inflowing of fresh water. Under th1s ar-. rangement substantially a constant temperature of the water may be maintained, the de gree adjusted bythe resistance which is offered to the closing of the valve.

To create a rapid circulation of the water through the chamber C, so that not only may the cold water which comes therein operate quickly upon the chamber H, but. that the water in the chamber may be heated quickly so as to communicate its heat to the chamber- H, openingsf, are made in the tube D, nearits upper end. The result of thisis that whereas the cold water will flow directly down through the tube D, the circulation thus produced will cause the heated water to flow inward through the openings F, into the chamber, the circulation being down through the tube, up outside the tube through the openings f, into the chamber 0. The boiler is provided with a suitable outlet pipe g, by which the Water may be drawn from the'boiler.

\Vhile it is preferred to employ the chamber O, as the best means through which to operate upon the regulating. chamber H, the chamber 0, may be omitted, in which case the water may be directed from the incoming tube onto the bottom of the regulating cham- III) or the water may be led directly to the hottom of the boiler, as indicated in broken lines, without this instant eli'ect upon the regulating chamber for its operation, in that case depending upon the natural circulation of the water within the boiler.

I claim 1. In a water heater, the combination of a boiler, a gas-burner below the boiler, a gassupply pipe leading to said burner, a water receiving chamber located within and openin g into the boiler, a water supply pipe opening into said receiving chamber, a regulating chamber arranged over the receiving-chamber, a flexible diaphragm across the top of said regulating chamber the bottom of which latter forms the top of the said receiving chamber, a valve in the gas supply pipe, the spindle of which is supported by said diaphragm, and the boiler provided with an outlet, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of a boiler A, havinga top B, constructed with a recess forming the walls and bottom of a chamber H integral withsaid top, a diaphragm J, secured to the Walls of said chamber, and so as to form the top thereof, a gas-burner below the boiler, a pipe adapted to lead gas to said burner, and passing over said diaphragm, a valve in said gas supply pipe arranged over said diaphragm, the said valve supported upon said diaphragm in a normally open position, the boiler provided with water inlet and a water outlet, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination of aboiler having a recess in its top forming a chamber H, a chamber 0, within the boiler, and surrounding the bottom of said chamber H, an inlet pipe leading into said chamber '0, a diaphragm J, across said chamber H, and so as to form the upper side thereof, the said chamber 0, having an opening into the boiler, a gas-burner below the boiler, a pipe leading to said gas burner for the supply of gas, a valve in said gas supplypipe over the said diaphragm,the said valve supported upon said diaphragm ina normally open position, and the boiler provided with an outlet, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a boiler constructed with a chamber H, in its top, a chamber 0, within the boiler and surrounding the bottom of the said chamber H, an inlet water supply pipe opening into said chamber 0, a pipe Within the boiler opening from the said chamber O downward toward the bottom of the boiler, a diaphragm forming the upper side of the said chamber H, a gas-burner below the boiler, a gas pipe leading to said burner and passing over said diaphragm, the valve in said gas-pipe above the diaphragm, the valve supported upon said diaphragm and normally in an open position, the boiler also provided with an outlet, substantially as described.

5. The combination of a boiler, a gasburner below said boiler, a gas-supply pipe leading to said burner and passing over said boiler, the'boiler constructed with a regulating chamber, a valve in the gas-pipe supported by the said regulating-chamber normally in an open position, a Water-receiving chamber within the boiler and surrounding the bottom of said regulating chamber, a Water-supply pipe opening into said receiving-chamber, a pipe leading from the bottom of said receiving-chamber downward toward the bottom of the boiler, and constructed with openings through into the boiler near the bottom of said receiving chamber, the boiler also provided with an outlet, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. MARSHALL.

Vitnesses:

TIMOTHY J. MOHUGH, JAMES H. OALKtNs. 

